Spring is in the air, and with it comes the promise of new beginnings, blooming flowers, and a fresh start for your home. Every year, people everywhere dive into their annual spring cleaning rituals—scrubbing floors, dusting off shelves, decluttering unused items and organizing those out of control spaces in their homes. But this year, why not take it up a notch? There is also the excitement of NCAA Basketball March Madness right now – and I got the idea of tying in that theme with my passion for decluttering and organizing your home.
For those unfamiliar, March Madness is an exciting time in the U.S., marked by the NCAA Basketball Tournament, where 68 college basketball teams compete for the national championship. The tournament kicks off in mid-March, and over the course of three weeks, fans watch upsets, surprises, and buzzer-beaters as lower-ranked teams sometimes defeat the highest seeds, creating an unpredictable and thrilling spectacle. Brackets are created to predict the winners, with fans—and even those with no knowledge of basketball—joining in the fun of picking who will advance to the next round. This sense of competition, strategy, and surprises is exactly how we can approach the task of spring cleaning, decluttering and organizing. This month’s blog post dives into this theme and also explains how hiring a Professional Organizing Company can help you secure a win.
Why March Madness is the Perfect Metaphor for Spring Organizing
March Madness is a time of upsets, surprises, and the ultimate test of strategy. Every team has a chance, but only the most prepared and efficient rise to the top. The same can be said for your home during spring cleaning season. Just like in the tournament, your home can get a bit chaotic over time with items piling up and spaces becoming cluttered. But with the right strategy, you can tackle it head-on and create a winning home environment.
When it comes to decluttering and organizing, it’s all about having a game plan. You need to assess the current state of your home, make quick decisions on what stays and what goes, and systematically declutter and organize each room. The goal? To reach the final bracket of your home—where everything is in order, accessible, and functional.
Here’s how to apply the March Madness strategy to your spring decluttering, organizing and cleaning routine:
Step 1: Seed Your Home – Assess Your Space
Before you can dive into the decluttering process, it’s important to take stock of your home and determine which areas need the most attention. Just like selecting your favourite teams for your bracket, you need to evaluate your rooms, closets, and spaces to see what’s worth keeping and what could be “eliminated.”
Take a tour around your home and be honest with yourself. Are there piles of paperwork in your office that need to be sorted? Is your closet bursting with clothes you haven’t worn in years? Maybe your kitchen cabinets are crammed with gadgets that never see the light of day. Start by assessing what’s working and what isn’t. This is your first step to creating a streamlined, functional space.
Step 2: Eliminate the ‘Cinderella’ Items – Declutter with Confidence
In March Madness, there are always those teams that make a surprise run, defeating higher-ranked teams to make it to the finals. In your home, these are the items that you might be holding on to for sentimental reasons or because you think they might be useful one day. But let’s be real—they’re not making it to the championship.
It’s time to pull a few upsets and let go of those “Cinderella” items. Consider donating or recycling anything that no longer serves you. Ask yourself: Does this item add value to my life? If it hasn’t been used in months (or years), it’s likely time to let it go. That pile of clothes from five years ago? Gone. The broken kitchen appliance you never got around to fixing? Bye-bye. When you declutter with confidence, you’re eliminating distractions and making room for what truly matters.
Step 3: Create Winning Strategies – Organize with Purpose
Now that you’ve decluttered, it’s time to get organized. In March Madness, a basketball team’s success depends on strategy, teamwork, and preparation. The same principles apply to organizing your home. Think of your home as the ultimate tournament bracket, where each room and space has its own challenge to tackle.
Start by breaking down each room into smaller sections. Instead of trying to organize your entire home in one fell swoop, focus on one area at a time. For example, organize your kitchen by category: pots and pans, utensils, pantry items, and so on. Then, categorize and store each item accordingly. Use clear containers and labels to make everything easy to find. This will prevent chaos from setting in later, much like a well-structured offense prevents turnovers on the court.
The key here is functionality. Keep frequently used items within reach, while placing rarely used items in harder-to-reach areas. For example, store seasonal dishes or holiday decorations in a higher cabinet, and keep everyday dishes in easy-to-reach spots.
Step 4: Set Up a ‘Time-Out’ Zone – Maintain Your Clean and Organized Home
In basketball, teams take timeouts to regroup, strategize, and make necessary adjustments. After your spring cleaning, it’s essential to set up a maintenance routine so your newly organized space stays in top form.
Create a “time-out” zone for incoming items. As new things come into your home—whether it’s mail, shopping bags, or kids’ artwork—have a designated spot for them. This could be a catch-all basket, a tray by the door, or a section of your counter. By having this system in place, you’ll avoid the clutter from creeping back in.
Additionally, establish small daily or weekly routines to keep clutter under control. Just like a basketball team needs practice to stay sharp, your home will need regular “practice” to maintain its organized state. Spend 15 minutes at the end of each day tidying up, sorting through paperwork, and putting away items. By staying on top of things, you’ll prevent the need for an overwhelming “spring cleaning” event in the future.
Step 5: Celebrate Your Victory – Enjoy Your Organized Home
After the excitement of March Madness, the championship team celebrates its hard-earned victory. Similarly, once you’ve decluttered and organized your home, take a moment to appreciate the fruits of your labor. Enjoy the serenity and sense of calm that comes with a tidy, well-organized environment. It’s not just about appearances—it’s about creating a space that supports your mental health, well-being and makes daily life easier.
Take a tour of your newly organized home and revel in how much better it feels. We always encourage taking Before & After Photos as well so you can look back and remember the progress – and share them with others, to be an inspiration in your circle of friends and family. Whether it’s the satisfaction of walking into a clutter-free living room or the joy of finding exactly what you need in a well-organized closet, your hard work has paid off (and it’s completely acceptable to brag!).
Bonus Tip: Organizing as a Team Sport
One of the best ways to stay motivated during your spring decluttering and organizing marathon is to make it a team effort. If you have family members or housemates, divide up the work and tackle tasks together. Organizing is often more fun (and faster!) when you work together toward the common goal of creating a peaceful, organized space.
Consider setting a timer for quick 15-20 minute bursts of activity. Just like in a basketball game, a fast-paced, focused effort often yields the best results. Break up the tasks, give high fives, and celebrate small victories along the way. Before you know it, your home will feel like the ultimate championship-winning space.
It is also incredibly beneficial to work with Our Professional Organizing & Declutter Coaching Team to get that additional support, advice and physical assistance. We have helped hundreds of clients over the past 5 years – our expertise and passion is always so pivotal in achieving the WIN!
Ready to Create a Home that Makes you Feel like a Winner?
This spring, put a fun new spin on your spring decluttering, organizing and cleaning routine by embracing the principles of March Madness. Assess your home like a bracket, eliminate unnecessary items like the surprise underdog teams, and organize with strategy to make your home a well-oiled machine. By the end of it all, you’ll be able to enjoy the victory of a decluttered, organized space—your very own championship-winning home.
Don’t wait for next year’s spring. Tackle your clutter head-on now, don’t be afraid to reach out to Our Professional Organizing Team if you need some coaching and physical support to enjoy a home that feels like a fresh start. After all, March Madness is all about surprises and winning against the odds—and with the right strategy and the right team, you can win the ultimate prize: an organized, simplified and stress-free home.